drTStingray

I have a Bongo 5HHp which I bought secondhand for just over £900. It's the most versatile bass I've ever played - so many tone possibilities. I'm a Musicman fan, but really have only ever focussed on the Stingray - however the opportunity to get the Bongo cropped up so I did - and I have found it quite a revelation. As with all Musicman basses, it a very well constructed and highly playable instrument - the Bongo has a four band EQ which is extremely powerful if you want it to be (though I tend to use mine set flat). The low mid control is especially good. I've recorded in guitar saturated settings and the Bongo sits beautifully in the mix. I also play in jam sessions where the guitar amps tend to be over powerful and the bass amps underpowerd or just plain crap - and even in those the Bongo cuts through well and sounds good - put it through a decent amp and it's killer. I bought a Classic Ray new for the sort of price you're talking about and couldn't be more pleased. WIth the Bongo you're getting an upper end instrument of a well respected manufacturer's range, with a lot of features and vast flexibility (more so than the afore-mentioned Ray). So I would say there's a lot more to it than a name. I can think of another well known manfacturer who does single pick up, one or two sound basses with an artist name on that are half as much as this again, or more - so I don't think the HH Bongo is over priced in relation to the market. If this sort of thing appeals to you, bear in mind non-musicians tend not to have pre-conceptions with instruments (and certainly don't associate instruments with sanitary ware) - I have had a number of people come and speak to me about the Bongo as they are wowed by the shape, look and also sound, and people think it's a boutique manufacturer instrument - mine is bright orange so that might help it stand out - it seems to appeal especially to women!!! I'd recommend you go and try one - it is quite different from a Stingray, in sound and feel, but still has that Musicman DNA to it.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1332959979' post='1595607']Also... the 24 frets scale on a Bongo (at least on all the 3 different ones I have tried) is a bit f'd up, no matter how accurately you adjust the intonation, saddles, etc any note pressed down past the 12th fret are way off tune, and I have tried it with the best tuners around, Peterson strobo, Korg pitchblack and tc polytune I reckon EBMM haven't done their math right when they placed the frets, or god knows why, it's just very difficult to get a true note from fret 14th onward.[/quote] Hi Fran, how you doing - your post got me very worried about my Bongo 5HHp - I've just been and checked it - I'm happy to say mine is fine other than it's a tad adrift at fret 24 on the E but I think I can live with that, and won't be bothering to adjust it I have to say that the Bongo is a great bass - very wide range of tone options and sits beautifully in any mix, both recorded and live - I think it has an underlying fundamental tone that's reminiscent of a P Bass, but with a multitude of sound variation available. It's great to play and even though mine is a tad on the heavy side for a Bongo, its weight is so well balanced it doesn't cause me back ache after a set, and the shape is so ergonomic that it's a joy to play. The only down side for me is slapping can be a bit awkward initially owing to the neck humbucker position. I've had mine for a couple of years now and won't be selling it!!

They're not as bright and zingy as other new roundwounds I've used. The guys who've been using the prototypes for a while have reported that they last very well so may possibly be comparable with Elixirs in that respect. I was told by Strings and Things they should have them generally available mid April - I was very lucky to 'acquire' my 5 string set, which I put on my Bongo. I haven't recorded with them on yet (other than a You Tube vid with a band).

The Bass Centre has a red one when I visited in about 2003 - along with a walnut pre EB Ray, and a pristine Inca Silver 77 Ray with a white pick up cover - I was in the market for an SR5 so ignored them - I wish I'd picked one of them up now.

[quote name='Magnolia' timestamp='1328201571' post='1523590'] Not sure if I have posted this before... Here is the one that got away. I stupidly sold it a few years ago and have regretted it pretty much everyday since. If I knew where it was now I'd do almost anything to get it back! It had one of the best maple necks I have ever seen. [/quote] [quote name='Bobby K' timestamp='1324724882' post='1477310'] I recently became a member in the Musicman owner's club Here's my fretless Stingray 5 from 1993, in the trans white (Mary kay) finish. Can't stop playing the damn thing [/quote] There are some droolworthy basses on this thread but these two are v special indeed. If anyone has one in either of these colours or peach that they want to sell, I'll be very interested!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1322679178' post='1454473'] Im not sure then, we need a Classic 4 owner [/quote] Hi guys - on my 2010 Classic SR4 - centre to centre - 93 mm; inner - 82 mm both approx. The saddles are hollow but look a larger diameter than I remember on my pre EB Ray.

I have a set of Cobalts on my Bongo 5HHp - I'm very impressed. They're louder, have more mids and aren't as zingy as brand new rounds normally are. I used the Bongo with these in a gig and the tone really was impressive. Not much slapping experience with them but some interesting tones seem to be available. I have DR Marcus Miller signature on my Musicman Stingray 5H - I was very impressed with these and they really livened the bass up for me - but the Cobalts really sound quite different from these - OK they're on a multi pick up Bongo so not a straight comparison - I can only say I'm impressed and will probably try some on a single pick up Musicman.